A story I would like to share

I would like to share something that happened today,,but first let me go back a bit..Four months ago I was in crisis mode I was depressed, over weight, had no energy, my BGL was out of control and I was losing the ability to walk due to 50 years of smoking and letting my diabetes get the upper hand. Nick1962 had made an interesting comment in a post." Going to war with your diabetes" And i did just that. Anytime I set a goal for myself that will require some deep down effort, that's how I approach it..My goal was to regain the use of my legs and anything that stood in the way was now my #1 enemy I went on insulin, changed my diet, started to exercise and quit smoking all this caused me to drop 20lbs..Now I was ready to attack my legs..I bought a cane and every day I went down to the park and tried to walk the one mile track with out having to stop..Let me just point out this track is not on level ground..It follows the natural con tor of the rolling hills of Virginia..One of these rolling hills soon turned into my mountain of pain..It was on that hill that I promised myself when I am able to walk this with out the cane I would bend it and hang it on my wall..I reached that goal with help of so many of you that were behind me pushing, when I wanted to stop. That's the cane I am pointing to in my profile picture. A normal person at that point would have been happy with themselves and I was thrilled for about 2 days.Now I needed a new goal to reach for..At this point I can barely walk the track and there is still some pain involved in doing it.So in a moment of insanity I set my current goal,,which is to be able to jog this track by summers end. I go down there everyday and push myself to walk it at nice pace,,the hills still slow me down and the Mountain of pain is now the hill of pain..Now we are getting to the point of all this..I needed something to keep me motivated. I was starting to have a moment of doubt. But every day I would notice this little gray hair man that I thought was my age jogging the track..He became my motivation, if he could do I can do it too. Today when he came jogging towards me in his picture of good health I pointed at him and said "you are my inspiration" He stopped and smiled and said really? yes really I replied..Well we stopped and talked,his name is Larry and guess what,, he too was diabetic T2.. Turns out he also at one time was on 2000 mgs of metformin plus blood pressure and cholesterol medicine and that he had lost 80 lbs..Larry is only5'2" he must of looked like a bowling ball back then.. He goes on to tell me when he first started he couldn't walk the track once and now he is med free..Controls it with diet and exercise..How many laps do you jog? 6 miles a day was his reply,,I didn't want to hold him up any longer and as he started to jog off, I had to ask..Hey Larry how old are you,He just turned and smiled "I'm 74" That did it..It was the little push I needed to keep going..Larry truly motivated me today and I hope this story helps to keep others motivated as well..Stay strong in your fight

65 replies

Dear Old Biker, I just joined today and found out back in April that I am T2. I have severe osteoarthritis and walking is painful but your story brought me to tears, and gave me the will to find some way to get some exercise into my life, even if at first it is only around my house. I have been told I need a hip replacement and I am only 51 but I know there has to be some way to get moving. With God's help and the support of this group, I will find it. Thanks for sharing your story and giving those of us that felt like there was no hope for us, Hope once more!!! :)

Dear Old Biker, This post was such an inspiration to me that it got me back into my walking routine…I used to do it with 2 other friends but lately, they've been too busy so I slacked off. Since reading your post, I've gone out twice and did my 3 miles in about 45 minutes and feeling GREAT about it. (Couldn't go out yesterday because of TS Debbie's torential rains here…skirted around the puddles today though.) Thanks again for the inspiration!Lou

In the moment of reaching outYour story became full and rich to knowA man walked in your shoes, struggling with painHe later ran past it all, diabetic…& even 74.He blazed the very trail you are onand now you point to the cane that standsas a reminder of where you have been.

Thank you for being an inspirationsharing a story so well that you touch hearts and livesfor walking past and soon running past the painputting one leg after the other seeing a little bit further, dreaming further of where you will goand in the telling of the journeyWe are there.

Thank you for the kind words, I am very humbled by the response my story has recieved..I just finish watching Arthur's story and have a couple of tears in my eyes..Thank you so much for sharing that..The human spirit is such an amazing thing to behold..He is living proof that even when you stumble you are still moving forward..Bless you all

I am not in as bad a shape as Arthur but the pain in my legs sings to me making its presence know.I walk my dogs and in the morning its the hardest.I have to keep pushing through and desire to work harder for my own story to tellI really appreciate your being here and part of the family!

Awesome, this story is so inspirational and I must admit I had tears in my eyes while reading it. Congratulations on reaching your goal and having the strength and courage to set a new one! Good luck & God bless you. Bear Hugs!

Thank you so much..I am retired at this point of my life..With no extra money to go traveling,. good thing I started on my bucket list when I was 10 LOL..Managing my diabetes gives me something to do..Life would be boring if we didn't have something to strive for.

This is great, I love inspirational stories. This was one is at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing and especially congrats on your most recent accomplishments and continued endeavors. It is amazing what we are able to do as individuals who are disciplined and never give up! Like the cane you carried I have seen D as my cross that I will carry for the rest of my life as a T1 and will do so fighting. DC has been such a great support to me! Hugs!

Thank you so much..You are so right, everyone here has their own cross to bear. That is what makes DC so special the help and support one can get here when the weight starts to get to heavy.." even when you stumble you are still moving forward"

Is is so good for you to put this out here! I have started to exericise since Friday. I am so tired, but I am going to keep going. Right not I can't do but 2 laps around the track and thats okay for now. I also found sound chair workout you can do on U-Tube that i am going to start doing. I refuse to give up. Thank you for your story

Hello Doggier… You mention you found sound chair workout on u-tube. Can you tell me how to get there? I cannot exercise due to a very low back problem. Most days i can barely walk. Any advice would be helpful. Also, i am a newbie here and cannot get my profile to let me put my picture on here. I am using the iPad, could that be the reason? I di not know where to get any help with this. Thank you for anything you can help me with. Have a great day.

Hi CJ this might be the reason with why you are having problem uploading your picture I tried a few times like you with no success..Pictures that were taken with my cell phone camera would not upload..I switched to a digital camera and had no problem..Something to do with the pixel count in the photo..I hope today is a good for you

That's an awesome story…brought tears to my eyes!! I love your profile pic and knowing the meaning behind it makes it more special! I'm happy you turned your mountain into a hill!! Yup! If you can do it we all can do it!!! Thanks for your bit of strength!! ;0)

Great post. I have neuropathy and understand exercising in pain. It's awful. You may want to consider buying a recumbent bicycle. Jogging really is rough on your body. Your results and success speak for themselves and your results are great.

With a recumbent bicycle you can exercise a few times a day with a lot less stress to your joints and limbs. I also do yoga twice a week and have managed to maintain A1C's in the low 5's without medication.

Funny you should mention this ..Today I tried to incorporate a little jogging in my walk..Hello..I was feeling pain in some new places..My hips and knees were talking to me..I will take your advice and look into a recumbent bike.. A1C in the low 5's with out meds takes great

Look at it as domestic biking. Actually, once you get over feeling like a gerbil, it's kind of cool. I can do half an hour now easily, so I do it a couple times a day. Recumbent bikes don't have to be a huge expense either. Anything basic will do. I don't need or use any of the high-tech stuff. It's really all about keeping active (without hurting yourself).

I will check it out..But I wish I knew why I have this thing about pushing myself through pain..It's not like I like pain..I think at this point it serves as an undeniable reminder to myself that I brought this all on myself through bad choices and if I make it through this I will never make those mistakes again..Does that make any sense..???

I think its the "pain makes you stronger" mentality. I know when I first started I couldn't walk a block without pain. Now, 3 miles daily easy and still go out and cut the lawn for 2 hours directly after on saturdays. Sure my legs ache at the dinner table, but it's gone by sunday morning.The pain does strengthen you, if it isn't something physically wrong.

Honestly, no. Most people with Type 2 HATE to admit they are overweight. Assuming that were the only cause for the condition, and it isn't, I'm not sure that sentences someone to a health condition. In fact, look how many people who are overweight and are symptom free. Also, I personally know slender, athletic people with Type 2. It's metabolic and cellular (and genetic and lifestyle).

If you're still with me, you shouldn't punish yourself for allegedly making "bad" choices. In fact, you'll do better by rewarding yourself with every little thing that you do that is healthy.

I was unable to walk for two and a half years. Trust me, injuring yourself doing physical activity is a huge mistake. Possibly irreversible.

Okay, lecture over. You already know not to make "those mistakes again" and I believe you.

Just as someone has inspired you, you are an inspiration to others!Keep up the fight with managing your diabetes, I am very proud to call you my friend, and very pleased to hear your story of success.May you have continued success in the future!

That's great that you are working with physical therapy..The hardest part is getting started..And you have already done that..The rest is just plain old stubbornness and determination..You can do this too, and maybe one day we can go jogging :-)

Great Story…congrats. Diabetes is the only disease I can think of where the outcome is 90% up to you. This is my motivation. Think of it, if someone were to tell you that you have cancer (or any other disease I can think of), you can't really do much to change the outcome. With diabetes, you can…and "That's the truth" as one of the characters use to say on "Laugh In" :>)

Thank you so very much for sharing. Oh what trophys we collect that mark our victories. JustThursday Hubby and I stopped as we were walking along a steep part of a path. I reminded him how at this time 2 years ago we would have been unable to be walking here. In those two long years my walker has become a towel caddy and my cane is waiting for use, when he misplaces his. He now has a job that requires him to not use a cane while on duty. He can manage it and is slowly gaining strength and endurance.

Thank you all for the kind words..But I didn't want this to focus on me,But more on my new friend Larry.. He is living proof that it is never to late to take control of your life.. What he achieved in his 70's just blows me away. I left the park today with a new lease on life